Podcast Summary: Mick Unplugged

Episode: Sade Lythcott Reveals National Black Theater's Next Chapter & Community Impact
Host: Mick Hunt
Guest: Sade Lythcott, CEO of National Black Theater
Date: September 20, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode centers on Sade Lythcott, CEO of the historic National Black Theater (NBT) in Harlem, as she shares her personal “Because” (purpose), breaks down NBT’s evolution, and reveals the vision for its 2027 relaunch. The conversation covers holistic producing, building community through art, stewardship of legacy, storytelling’s cultural power, and actionable ways listeners can support Black theater’s future.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Sade Lythcott’s “Because” and Living Her Purpose (02:05)

• Sade sees her purpose as “listening and interpreting the seeds that were planted by our ancestors,” especially her mother, Dr. Barbara Ann Teer, NBT's founder during the civil rights movement.
• She feels a calling to “write our ancestors back into our future” and finish her late mother's "unfinished song."
• Quote:

  “Every day I wake up and I get this incredible opportunity to write her back into her story. And in that, I will say I get the opportunity to write our ancestors back into our future through my listening."
  (C, 03:29)

2. Leading Through Crisis: COVID-19 and Organizational Transformation (03:39)

• Sade describes inheriting NBT’s leadership post-2008 and how the pandemic became an opportunity for transformation.
• Shares her mantra: “Never pray for strength—because you only get strength through struggle. Pray for grace and clarity instead.” (04:49)
• COVID allowed NBT to incubate, reimagine, and focus on long-term sustainability while serving the wider arts community through city and state advocacy.
• Quote:

  “Covid gave us this amazing opportunity to see that finding great people...” (C, 08:41)

3. The Philosophy of Holistic Producing (12:24)

• Holistic producing means creating theater that isn’t only about the play but wraps performances in community engagement and social impact.
• NBT links production quality with civic involvement and audience dialogue, encouraging post-performance conversations and community art-making.
• Focus: Move from being “brand new” to “brand true,” staying rooted in NBT’s mission rather than personal legacy.
• Quote:

  “Holistic producing is ... dramaturgy, it's production and it's community building.”
  (C, 16:07)

4. The Vision for National Black Theater’s 2027 Expansion (16:32)

• In 2027, NBT will open a mixed-use arts complex at 125th & 5th Avenue:
  • 222 housing units for creatives
  • Two performance venues
  • Rehearsal and fabrication spaces
• Intention is to create an ecosystem for Black creatives to “live, work, and serve”—fulfilling Dr. Teer’s vision.
• Apartments have started leasing (June 2025).
• Quote:

  “We are reimagining this city block ... as [an] ecosystem for creatives to live, work and serve.”
  (C, 16:56)

5. The Emotional Weight of Legacy (18:40)

• Cutting the ribbon will signify the fulfillment of generational dreams and the establishment of “a home for Black artistry and storytelling.”
• Sade likens the project to providing “our very own 40 acres and a mule.”
• Quote:

  “Cutting that ribbon means that we all get to come home. And I think that will just be everything.”
  (C, 20:13)

6. The Enduring Power of Theater & Storytelling (21:40 / 23:52)

• Sade emphasizes the unique role of theater as a medium of ancestral connection and cultural preservation—distinguishing it from technology and digital content.
• Calls listeners to be intentional about the stories they consume and tell, as these narratives shape personal and collective futures.
• Quote:

  “Art and entertainment without culture is content... Theater has an alchemy around alignment, cultural preservation.”
  (C, 22:30)

• Quote:

  “Story is all we have... Get in the driver's seat, drive your own story, tell your own story.”
  (C, 23:52)

7. Coalition of Theaters of Color (25:28)

• Sade also chairs this coalition, which provides nearly $7 million annually to 65+ theaters of color throughout NYC, focusing on advocacy and funding for legacy organizations.
• Roots: Began as a fundraiser inspired by Ruby Dee and Ossie Davis.

8. Bold Vision for the Next Decade (26:52)

• NBT’s current $100 million capital project is a historic multi-arts complex; $80 million already raised.
• Envisions NBT as a premiere destination for new, immersive, and technologically advanced Black theater, keeping Harlem’s cultural wealth within the community.
• Plans for “naming justice”—dedicating building spaces in honor of Black luminaries.

9. How to Support the Mission (28:52)

• Visit nationalblacktheater.org to donate, see shows, or learn about “naming justice.”
• Community members can contribute financially or through engagement to help reach the $100 million goal.
• Quote:

  “We want to ensure that the buildings we are building... continue to be brand true and not brand new. So join us.”
  (C, 29:37)

10. Sade’s Quick Five (30:12-32:16)

• Favorite Harlem pizza: V & T Pizza (30:17)
• Morning ritual: Meditation (30:25)
• Go-to creative song: “Spirit in the Dark” by Aretha Franklin (30:36)
• Leadership inspiration: James Baldwin’s The Fire Next Time and Nina Simone (30:54)
• Favorite escape: Anywhere with “salt water, sun, and poor service” to unplug (31:42)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Ancestral Purpose:

  “Harvesting our ancestors’ dreams ... really finishing her unfinished song is my because.” (C, 02:57)

• On Community Impact:

  “So when Covid hit ... it was really an incubating time for us to really imagine a future that was Covid-proof that could serve this new reality.” (C, 07:23)

• On Naming Justice:

  “We are naming spaces in our building after people who look like us. We call it naming justice.” (C, 29:21)

• On Technology vs. Theater:

  “Technology is important, but technology is unproven. Theater is proven.” (C, 21:45)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Intro & Sade’s “Because”: 01:47–03:39
• Transition & Leadership Through Covid: 03:39–09:08
• Holistic Producing: 11:58–16:14
• New NBT Building & Future: 16:14–18:40
• Legacy, Emotions & “Coming Home”: 18:40–21:33
• Power of Theater & Storytelling: 21:40–25:11
• Theaters of Color Coalition: 25:11–26:38
• NBT’s 10-Year Vision: 26:38–28:45
• How to Support (Call to Action): 28:45–29:53
• Quick Five Segment: 29:53–32:16
• Closing Thoughts & Contact Info: 32:16–32:31

Final Thoughts

Sade Lythcott offers an inspiring vision for community-rooted, legacy-conscious leadership in the arts. Her stewardship of NBT is about more than survival—it's about building a sustainable, future-facing hub where Black storytelling thrives and empowers generations. The episode motivates listeners to connect with their own “because,” support authentic cultural spaces, and drive narrative change in their communities.